Solentwaters.co.uk describes what chemical tankers and oil tankers are. Lots of lovely graphics and thorough historical and technical discussions. A useful site to bear in mind when researching about ship vessel types. Transport Canada, an official website, explains the reasons behind phasing out single-hulled oil tankers.

You can read about Bureau Veritas at their website. Here are the documents we showed:

From a shipping industry point of view, Lloyd’s List also has an informative article on tanker spills: “Analysis uncovers tanker fleet pollution surprises.”

As promised, here is Prof. Perry Ong’s full PowerPoint presentation on the MT Solar oil spill and issues raised by the event: perry ong 1-2.ppt . Dr. Ong was emphatic about three points: that a national oil spill plan should already have been in effect; that a concern with mopping up oil overlooks the oil that’s settled on the sea floor; and that the long-term effects of an oil spill are being overlooked. For the long-term effects of an oil spill, see David S. Page’s study (Bowdoin College).

Again, one purpose for posting our sources is to promote further discussion/clarification of what we discuss, to make the show more meaningful and useful to our viewers. Should viewers feel something needs further discussion (or if you’d like to explain things, too), please feel free to do so!

My closing statement was as follows:

The sea surrounds us; our sailors sail the seven seas. But our own seas are filled with tragedy. In the past, it was disasters like the Dona Paz, with its spectacularly large list of fatalities, that horrified us. The MT Solar’s sinking now turns our attention to the environmental consequences of maritime disasters. Adversity, such as the ecological and economic destruction the sinking’s caused, has temporarily united all of us, in concern and outrage. The sinking of the Titanic resulted in legislation requiring enough lifeboats be provided for all passengers. We can only hope legislation that strengthens the monitoring capacity of our maritime authorities, and which really helps guarantee not only more seaworthy vessels, but competent captains, is the result of this latest tragedy.

8 comments

The oil that has settled at the sea bottom is really a major concern being overlooked. Then again, maybe it has become a custom to us Pinoys to just clean up the mess visible to the eyes. Never mind if the rest is still present underneath.

The double-hulling of ships is one great innovation that our local shipping industry should adopt. The only problem about this is the huge cost that entails with this plan and local shipping companies may not be as financially-capable. It really bothers me that as we speak right now, some old model tankers are still plying our seas, and the danger still remains. I believe that our country should not suffer another Guimaras situation.

Some smart alek said that anything that could go wrong, will go wrong. The Case of Guimaras oil spills were all wrong that will surely go wrong. First, a single-hulled oil tanker thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s no longer used in most other countries and in some is illegal. Second, a captain with an alleged expired license. Third, that there is no emergency readiness plans for such incident on the national level. Finally, that instead of working together to contain the initial spills, the parties; the oil company (the shipper), the shipping company and the national government shied away at their responsibilities and responded a little too late. If this scenario is the norm, Murphy Law has no trouble proving its notoriety.

How about the rumor that the oil spill was deliberately planned for the Ale Boba to be able to get fundings again for her bribing, galivanting sprees, and other questionable activities. Kawawang Pilipinas!

I was right in fact when I criticized the hair cutting measure to clean up the oil mess. The crook just wanted to cut on expenses so she can as usual keep the donations in millions of dollars, and other foreign currency to be stashed in private bank acounts in the Philippines and abroad. Wow!

Now, let’s see how Cayetano will stand against this crooks now telling him to say “I’m sorry!” Frankly, he can try a Gloria! Say “I’m sorry” and pretend that he has not been aware that the Fatso would react to it since the Fatso was not even mentioned as the one being impeached, or was he since he must have thought of himself as the one really running the government and the missy is just a camouflage since in principle, he is just a consort and does not have an official portfolio so he definitely is not one to be subjected to an impeachment but direct to the police as a civilian offender if he is one unless they are making their own rules and not follow the provisions of the law.

To Cong. Cayetano, HUWAG KANG MATAKOT! MARAMING NAGSUSUPORTA NG GINAGAWA MO! Who says that there is no alternative to the Ale Boba! Please stop insulting the Filipino race!

STOP BEING MASOCHISTS! DOWN WITH THE PIDAL SADISM! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

Sorry for the grammatical error caused by fast typing. This should read: I was right in fact when I criticized the hair cutting measure to clean up the oil mess. The crook just wanted to cut on expenses so she can as usual keep the donations in millions of dollars, and other foreign CURRENCIES to be stashed in private bank acounts in the Philippines and abroad. Wow!

Now, letÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s see how Cayetano will stand against THESE CROOKS now telling him to say Ã¢â‚¬Å“IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m sorry!Ã¢â‚¬Â Frankly, he can try a Gloria! Say Ã¢â‚¬Å“IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m sorryÃ¢â‚¬Â and pretend that he has not been aware that the Fatso would react to it since HE ACTUALLY DID NOT REFER TO THE FATSO BUT THE PERSON TO BE IMPEACHED! HIS REACTION JUST SHOWS HOW HE REGARDS HIMSELF—AS THE REAL PRESIDENT HIDING BEHIND THE MISSY WHOM DAVIDE SAID WAS MERELY AN ACTING PRESIDENT!

THE HUSBAND OF AN ACTING PRESIDENT, OR EVEN SOMEONE LIKE IMELDA MARCOS COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN OFFICIAL OF THE GOVERNMENT UNLESS THEY ARE GIVEN POSITIONS LIKE GOVERNOR OF MANILA THAT IMELDA WAS IN THE 70’S AFTER THE DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW. tHE FATSO IS SIMPLY AN ESCORT WITH NO OFFICIAL PORTFOLIO. SO, WHY IS HE PANICKING AND ACTING LIKE HE IS THE ONE CAYETANO IS REFERING TO WHEN IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE PERSON INVOLVED IS ONE APT FOR AN IMPEACHMENT! ANO IYAN NANGGAGAGO?!

…and policies are all but too common in government. Legislation will not solve our blatant disregard for common sense safety measures. While everybody focuses on who to blame, no one in government is acting to make sure that the long term effects of this ecological diaster are minimized if not averted.